Perfect North Slopes is an alpine skiing resort in Southeastern Indiana. It consists of five magic carpets, two rope tows, and five chairlifts. The area has 23 trails, one of which is expert, three of which are most difficult, two of which are advanced intermediate, 12 of which are intermediate (including three terrain parks), and five of which are beginner. Lessons are available.[1]

Perfect North Slopes
LocationMiller Township, Dearborn County, Indiana
Nearest major cityLawrenceburg, Indiana
Coordinates39°08′57″N 84°53′12″W / 39.149208°N 84.886581°W / 39.149208; -84.886581
StatusOperating
Vertical400 ft (120 m)
Top elevation800 ft (240 m)
Base elevation400 ft (120 m)
Skiable area100 acres (40 ha)
Trails23 total
5 beginner
12 intermediate
6 advanced/expert
Longest runFar Side 1 mi (1.6 km)
Lift system11 total (3 quad chairs, 2 triple chairs, 6 surface)
Terrain parks3
Snowfall23 in (58 cm)
SnowmakingYes
Night skiingYes
Websitewww.perfectnorth.com

Trail list

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Easiest/Green Circle : Cat Walk (Carpets), Rehearsal (Carpets), Callback (Carpets), Understudy (Carpets), Broadway (Green Chair), and Jam Session Beginner Terrain Park (Rope)

More Difficult/Blue Square : Ella Mae Way (Red Chair), Back Stage (Red Chair), Tuff Enuff (Red Chair), Hoyt Connection (White Chair, Orange Chair), Clyde's Super Slide (Red Chair, White Chair, Orange Chair), Lower Hollywood Terrain Park (Red Chair), Audition Terrain Park (Blue Chair), The Meadow (Blue Chair), Jam Session (Rope), Ski Whiz (Green Chair), Rewind (Orange Chair), The Far Side (Orange Chair), and Runway (Orange Chair)

Advanced Intermediate/Blue Square with Black Diamond : Intermission [Race Course] (Orange Chair) and Special Effects (Orange Chair)

Most Difficult/Black Diamond : Center Stage (Red Chair, White Chair), Deception (Red Chair, White Chair), Prime Time (Orange Chair)

Experts Only/Double Black Diamond : Hollywood (Red Chair)

Tubing is also available to the right of Orange Chair.[2]

Resort history

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Perfect North was formed by the Perfect Family and others in 1980. Initially funded by the sale of cattle by Clyde & Ella Mae Perfect, it began with 2 handle tows and a rope tow on two ski runs on the "big" hill, as well as 2 rope tows on the bunny slope. In 1984, a chair was added where the "big" rope tow was, and another chair was added in 1985. In 1987, Perfect North added their third chairlift, which added one blue square and two black diamond ski runs. Eventually, they added two more chairs, including their 5th chair, which opened up 4 new ski runs. In 2022, a new half mile trail, Ella Mae Way, was added on the eastern (skiers right) side of the slopes. This trail was named after one of the founders Ella Mae Perfect.[3] Then in 2023, the Red Chair was replaced by a new Skytrac Quad Chair along with a new RFID system for passes and lift tickets. [4] In the 2024-25 season they replaced the one of the old terrain parks and remade it to the left of Ella Mae Way with a beginner terrain park below it. They also added multiple snow blowers with generators being able to pump 15,000 gallons per minute. Updated Map of Perfect North Slopes]]

Perfect North did not allow snowboarding until 2002. It was one of the last ski resorts in America to still refuse snowboarders.

Perfect North was also where notable Olympic freestyle skier Nick Goepper got his start. Growing up about 15 minutes from the slopes, Nick used to spend up to 12 hours a day training at Perfect North before beginning his track to stardom and eventually competing in the Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia. [5] Four years later, in Pyeongchang, South Korea, Goepper excitedly asked "What's up, Perfect North?" to the camera after his first qualifying run in the slopestyle competition, scoring a 92.80. [6]

On November 20, 2019, Perfect North purchased the land and assets of Timberline Four Seasons Resort in a Philadelphia bankruptcy court.[7] The Timberline resort lies at the eastern slope of the Canaan Valley near Davis, West Virginia. Timberline, along with the neighboring Cannan Valley Ski Resort, receives an outsized amount of snow relative to the surrounding areas. Timberline had fallen into disrepair over the previous several years, suffering sporadic broken lifts and other infrastructure deficiencies. A new management team revitalized the operation in time for the 2020-2021 ski season.

Activities

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The Perfect North Slopes lodge has 3 sections: east, west, and main. The west lodge is the original lodge. The main lodge and the East Lodge are later additions. The first story of the main lodge has a small cafeteria. On the second story of the east lodge, there is a small skiing and snowboarding shop. Adjacent to the main ski area is a 750-foot (230 m) tubing run[8] which includes 3 sections and 23 lanes.

Perfect North Slopes has three terrain parks. There is an advanced terrain park and a beginner terrain park. The first advanced terrain park is lift serviced and usually includes three jumps and several rails. The second advanced terrain park is also lift serviced and includes several large jumps. The beginner terrain park is tow rope serviced and has access to beginner rails and small jumps.

Events

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Perfect North hosts an abundance of local competitions and clinics throughout the season. Some of the events usually hosted are: Small Terrain park clinics, the yearly Big Air competition (Held in Audition Terrain Park), the Mud Stash, and a Spring Carnival. They also host an annual ski swap[9] and new in 2023 is ColorFall, which is a reoccurring fall themed event with lit walkway around the snowmaking pond, a hayride around Perfect North Slopes, and a fall themed menu.[10][11]

Food and beverage

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Perfect North Slopes offers a variety of food and drinks in three different locations.

  • The Chow Corral (Located in the Main Lodge)
  • The Grill (Located on the Main Deck when Weather Permits on Weekends)
  • Slip-N-Slide Snack Shack (Located in the Snow Tubing Area)[12]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Adult Lessons". Perfect North Slopes. 2017 Perfect North Slopes. 2017. Retrieved 2017-12-20.
  2. ^ "Perfect North Slopes | Trail Map".
  3. ^ "Indiana ski resort Perfect North Slopes opens this week with new trail". WLKY. 2022-11-21. Retrieved 2023-10-20.
  4. ^ "Major Updates For The 23/24 Season – Perfect North Slopes". Retrieved 2023-10-20.
  5. ^ "Olympic skiing favorite Nick Goepper got his start in Indiana".
  6. ^ "NBC Primetime: Alpine Skiing, Freestyle, Skeleton, Ski Jumping, Short Track (Standard)".
  7. ^ "It's Official! Timberline Resort is Sold to Perfect North Slopes!". 20 November 2019.
  8. ^ Smith, Steve; et al. (2007). "Amateur Sports". Cincinnati USA City Guide. Cincinnati Magazine. p. 48. Retrieved 2013-05-06.
  9. ^ "Annual Sale and Swap – Perfect North Slopes". Retrieved 2023-10-20.
  10. ^ "ColorFall – Perfect North Slopes". Retrieved 2023-10-20.
  11. ^ "ColorFall Menu – Perfect North Slopes". Retrieved 2023-10-20.
  12. ^ "Perfect North Slopes | Food & Beverage".
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